Malacañang asked the nation on Thursday to pray for the successful spinal surgery of First Gentleman (FG) Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo on Saturday, June 19.

Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo appealed to the public to join President Arroyo and the First Family in praying for the First Gentleman’s trouble-free spine operation.

The Palace official said he is quite sure that the President “will spend time to visit and stay there while the operation is ongoing.”

The First Gentleman is expected to stay at least 10 days at the St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City in Taguig City for the surgery and recuperation.

“We join the President and the First Family in praying for the successful operation of the First Gentleman. Though it is not life-threatening, our prayers could help,” Saludo said.

He said the President will likely spend a lot of her time at the hospital, noting that appropriate adjustments to her schedule have been made for the coming week to accommodate the First Gentleman’s hospitalization.

Still, Malacañang assured the nation that her husband’s spinal surgery of the First Gentleman won’t hamper Mrs. Arroyo from carrying out her functions in the remaining days of her administration which ends on June 30.